What Are Terpenes and Why Are They so Important for Marijuana Users?

Terpenes are the pungent oils that give cannabis strains their own unique aromatic profile. They are produced in the same glands that produce cannabinoids like THC and CBD.

There have been over 100 different terpenes identified in the cannabis plant. The terpenes interact synergistically with the cannabinoids found in the plant. These days, many cannabis strains are bred to have higher levels of THC, and as a result, cannabinoids in the strains have decreased to trace amounts, but fortunately the terpene profiles remain.

Terpenes have been proven to have incredible medicinal value because they bind to human cannabinoid receptors and effect the chemical output. They can also modify how much THC passes through the blood-brain barrier. They have also been known to influence dopamine and serotonin receptors by altering the rate of production and destruction of the receptors.